Students of Design

Matt Thompson – Design Pricing, Working With Musicians, and Failure To Launch Projects – Ep5

Episode Summary

Matt is an independent visual designer—based in Austin, TX—primarily focused on brand identity, package design, illustration, and custom typography. He's done work with Helms Workshop, Canales & Co., The Butler Bros, and more. Matt is also a metal guitarist, DIY to the bone, and if push came to shove, he'd give up custom typography before music.

Episode Notes

Matt is an independent visual designer—based in Austin, TX—primarily focused on brand identity, package design, illustration, and custom typography. He's done work with Helms Workshop, Canales & Co., The Butler Bros, and more. Matt is also a metal guitarist, DIY to the bone, and if push came to shove, he'd give up custom typography before music. You can find his work on Instagram @mattthompson and delicious pricing information on his website.

Questions for this interview.

• In December 2023, you posted a graphic on Instagram that said, "Design Pricing...Let's talk about it." What's the story behind that post?
• Can you talk about how you charge your clients for work?
• Can you tell us about your connection to the music industry and why you have messaging specific to musicians on your website?
• Do you think music creeps into your designs or influences your professional work? If it does, how so?
• Do you ever get pushback on your prices? How do you respond to clients who want your services for less money?
• What advice do you have for someone who understands they should be charging more for their work but doesn't know where to start?
• (Listener Question) How do you find new clients? Is it just who you know?
• What characteristics do you look for in a client?
• Which would you give up, playing the guitar or custom typography?